EXTRA...

State-by-state summary of offshore wind proposals; Nantucket house sells for $19.5M; Another of the Brit's Best Beaches here

How to spend $19,500,000 on an island home

 32 Easton Street on the stories isle of Nantucket sold for $19.5 million. See story below on right.

 Another of the Brit's Best beaches:

 Sandy Neck Beach, Cape Cod

Six miles of secluded white sand between Sandwich and Barnstable.

The beach
Six miles of dunes and an endless stretch of white sand beach face the calm, dark blue waters of Cape Cod Bay on the north and the 8,000 acre Great Marsh on the south. A massive sand dune and beach forest system supports all kinds of wildlife and blossoms with beach plum, salt spray roses, bayberry and bear berry.
Who goes?
Almost nobody. Only old Cape Cod hands and locals seem to know this paradisical beach lies at the end of an ordinary residential road. Limited parking, near the Ranger station and the small, lifeguarded section of beach, keeps numbers down and people seem to vanish among the dunes as soon as they arrive.
What is there to do?
Beachcomb, birdwatch, surf cast and photograph raccoon, eastern coyote, deer and skunk. Have a clam bake; cooking fires and overnight tent camping are permitted, as are riding and off-road vehicles. Hunt for deer and pheasant in season.
Bites and bars
Venture into Sandwich, about a mile away, for anything more than basic snacks. Try baked scrod (baby cod, a Boston area speciality) at the Bee-Hive Tavern (406 Route 6A; 508 833-1184) or dine in grand style (lump crab and lobster cake) in a lofty converted abbey at the Belfrey Bistro (8 Jarves Street; 508 888-8550).
Getting there
Boston's Logan Airport is an hour and 40 minutes away by car. Cross the Sagamore Bridge onto Route 6A, then turn left, eight and a half miles along, onto Sandy Neck Road... The Telegram UK.

State-by-state summary of offshore wind
A summary of the proposed offshore wind projects in the United States:

MASSACHUSETTS:
Cape Wind Associates proposed a 130-turbine project in 2001 to be located five miles offshore in Nantucket Sound. The wind farm, which would cost more than $1 billion, would generate 75 percent of the electricity needs for the Cape, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Politicians and residents have tried hard to block the 420-megawatt project, arguing it would hurt the fishing and tourism industries and mar ocean views. Cape Wind hopes the wind farm will be operational by the end of 2011.

Blue H USA has proposed a deep-water wind project that would place 120 wind turbines 23 miles off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. Massachusetts' congressional delegation recently urged the federal government to approve a lease for the 420-megawatt project. The deep-water technology is largely untested.

DELAWARE:
After rate caps on electricity prices for Delmarva Power customers were lifted in 2006, the state requested proposals for projects that would provide stable-priced energy, reduce environmental impacts and adopt new and emerging technologies. In June, Delmarva Power agreed to buy up to 200 megawatts of electricity for 25 years from a proposed wind project located about 11.5 miles offshore. The project would consist of between 60 and 200 turbines and generate between 200 and 600 megawatts. The average Delmarva customer would pay $0.70 more a month on average over 25 years, according to a July report from an independent consultant hired by the state. That number is significantly lower than initially predicted, in part because of projected increase in natural gas prices and compliance costs for reducing carbon dioxide pollution, the report said. At 450-megawatt capacity, the project would cost about $1.5 billion. The project developer, Bluewater Wind, expects to provide electricity by 2012.

MARYLAND:
Gov. Martin O'Malley said in July that he supports Delaware's Bluewater project. If Maryland were to buy power from the Bluewater wind farm, the company would need to build a larger park, which would make the project more viable. Bluewater said it is currently working with Maryland officials to investigate potential electricity buyers.

$19.5 m sale ties Nantucket record

Last week, 32 Easton St. sold for $19.5 million and according to Nantucket Islands Land Bank records, the sale broke the record for the highest intown residential sale price.
   Ducks Crossing, LLC of Nantucket, Mass. purchased the house on .31 of an acre valued at $9,915,600 from Dickon Pownall-Gray and Lisa W. Pownall-Gray of Weston, Conn.
   Although tied with sale of a house on 65 acres at 169 Eel Point Road overlooking Nantucket Sound in May 2000 to Douglas J. Bean for $19.5 million, as the second most expensive residential real estate transaction ever on Nantucket, last week's sale rings in at the most ever paid for a single residence in-town. Only Robert Frisbee's purchase of 42 Easton St. for $11 million in May 2004 comes close... Nantucket Independent.

RHODE ISLAND:
The state announced in April it was soliciting bids for an offshore wind farm with a 450-megawatt capacity - enough to generate about 15 percent of the state's total electricity use. The state received seven bids and is expected to make a decision this fall.

NEW JERSEY:
The state imposed a 15-month freeze on offshore wind projects in 2004 after a 350-megawatt project was proposed off the state's coast. A panel concluded in 2006 that the state should consider launching a limited and carefully monitored offshore test project. Five companies have submitted bids for a 350-megawatt project. The state is expected to choose a bidder this fall... Northwest Herald.